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Treating nail psoriasis is often a time-consuming challenge with an unsecure outcome. Response to the treatment is variable and relapses are common. Systemic treatments have multiple systemic side effects and lack of the patient compliance makes intra-lesional therapies not the best choice for treatment of nail psoriasis. We aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and side effects of methotrexate versus calcipotriol plus betamethasone two-compound formula when applied topically to psoriatic nails after fractional CO2 laser. This comparative pilot study included 20 patients with nail psoriasis. One side was treated with fractional CO2 laser followed by the application of topical methotrexate (Group A) and the other side with fractional CO2 laser followed by topical (Calcipotriol 0.05 mg/gm + Betamethasone 0.5 mg/gm) (Group B). 4 sessions were done, once every 2 weeks. There was a high statistical significant decrease in total NAPSI score in group A at 1(P = 0.000) and 2 months (P = 0.000). There was a high statistical significant decrease in total NAPSI score in group B at 1(P = 0.001) and 2 months (P = 0.001). There was no statistical significant difference regarding total NAPSI score between both group A and B at 0 (P = 0.271), 1(P = 0.513) and 2 months (P = 0.647). Combined fractional CO2 laser with either topical MTX or topical betamethasone plus calcipotriol two-compound formula is effective treatment for nail psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Keloid is a common dermatological complaint produced by disruption of the normal wound healing process. Several treatment modalities for keloids are available with variable degrees of response such as surgical excision, topical and intralesional corticosteroids, interferon, botulinum toxin, cryotherapy and laser therapy. Aim of the Study: The aim of the present study is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of intralesional botulinum toxin type A and cryotherapy in the treatment of keloids. Patients and Methods: This study included 10 patients complaining of keloids (at least 2 lesions). Keloids were treated by either cryotherapy (one session every two weeks) or intralesional BTX-A (5 IU/cm2 once every 4 weeks). Punch biopsy was done for every lesion before the start of treatment and repeated 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: Both treatment modalities achieved statistically significant clinical response (keloid pliability, height and VSS score) histological response (epidermal thickness) and immunohistochemical response (fibronectin spot count). Both treatments were well tolerated and satisfying to included patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease leading to noncicatricial alopecia. Topical or intralesional corticosteroid (ILCS) is the accepted therapeutic option for mild cases; however, adverse effects are sometimes difficult to reverse. When the exposure to liquefied nitrogen is limited to a few seconds "superficial" cryotherapy, reactive vasodilation may improve microcirculation and nutritional status around hair follicles. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare superficial cryotherapy and ILCS in the treatment of patchy AA. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 21 patients with patchy AA. Every patient received superficial cryotherapy on one patch, every 2 weeks for 3 months, and ILCS injection for another patch, once monthly for 3 months. Results: Clinical improvement was higher in cryotherapy group compared to ILCS group with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002). On trichoscopic evaluation, terminal hair count was improved in lesions treated with cryotherapy more than lesions treated with ILCS but without statistical significance (P = 0.595) and vellus hair count was improved in lesions treated with cryotherapy more than lesions treated with ILCS with a statistical significance (P = 0.002). Conclusions: Cryotherapy is more effective and less painful than ILCS in the treatment of patchy AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatologic complaints. About 85% of adolescent population and 3% of the adults between the age of 35-44 years have this disease worldwide. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit. Helicobacter pylori is a gastric Gram-negative, spiral-shaped microaerophilic pathogen closely associated with gastric and extra-gastric diseases (chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, gastric cancer, iron deficiency anemia, etc). It has been shown that H. pylori may play a potential pathogenic role in extraintestinal diseases such as hepatobiliary, respiratory, cardiovascular, and dermatological disorders. The latter included chronic urticaria, psoriasis, henoch-schonlein purpura, and rosacea. Objective: To determine the prevalence of H. Pylori infection among AV patients and correlate it with the disease severity. We included 45 patients with AV and 45 matched age and sex apparent healthy controls. Methods: This case control study included 45 Patients with AV. They were recruited from the Dermatology outpatient clinic, Ain Shams University Hospitals and Teba specialized hospital in Luxur government. The study also included 45 age and sex matched healthy volunteers as a control group. They were recruited from people who don't have AV attending Al Demerdash Hospital Ain Shams University and Tepa Specialized Hospital. The study was done in the period from November 2021 to October 2022. Results: Detection of H. pylori antigen in stool and H. pylori antibody IgG in serum in both groups revealed that the rates of H. pylori antigen in stool and H. pylori antibody IgG in serum were significantly higher in AV patients compared to control subjects. Also the patients with severe AV had statistically significant higher rates of H. pylori antigen in stool and H. pylori antibody in serum as compared to the patients with mild Acne and healthy controls. Also the number of AV involved sites and severity of AV were significantly correlated with H. pylori Ag in stool and H pylori Ab in serum. While there was no statistical significant correlation between (the type of AV, onset of AV and duration of AV) and H. pylori Ag in stool and H. pylori Ab in serum. Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with acne vulgaris is high so it may represent a risk factor for this skin disease. Also the indicators of H. pylori infection were positively correlated with the severity of AV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fungal skin infection has become a significant problem. Therefore accurate diagnosis and treatment of the active disease as well as the reduction of the re-infection by continued screening, follow up of relatives, treating asymptomatic carriers and disinfecting their environment is mandatory. Objective: The study was conducted to determine the frequency of superficial cutaneous fungal infections in Toukh City and to identify the risk factors underlying superficial cutaneous fungal infections. Patients and Methods: Our study investigated prevalence of fungus infections in Toukh Primary Health Care Center, 420 study participants were examined for presence of fungus infection of glabrous skin, hair and nails. All participants completed a questionnaire to estimate their knowledge about superficial fungal infections (SFIs) and to record presence of risk factors for SFIs. Results: The study showed more prevalence of fungal infection (18.6%). Dermatophyte infections were more prevalent than non-dermatophyte (51.2% vs 37.2%) of infected cases. Onychomycosis had prevalence 1.2% of our study participants and 6.4% of infected participants. Candidal infection was (5.2%), tinea (T.) pedis was (3.6%), T. cruris was (2.1%), T. capitis was (1.7%), T. versicolor was (1.7%), T. circinata was (1.2%), T. barbae was (0.5%) and T. corporis was (0.5%) of study participants. Females represent (62.8%) of cases, while males represent (37.2%). Concerning with predisposing factor was contact with animals (70.5%). (57.1%) of infected participants were diabetics, (71.4%) of infected participants were usually wearing synthetic clothes, (64.1%) of infected participants shared towel between family members and (73.1%) shared hair brush. Conclusion: Skin fungal infections are widely prevalent among the population and there is need to increase the awareness of risk factors contributing to skin fungal infections. Awareness in relation to personal hygiene, education status and occupation do play a part in genesis of SFIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]